The Last Days

The Holy Spirit witnesses to us concerning the last days, and he tells us what to expect. He tells us the attitude and the spirit that will prevail in the hearts of the wicked.

(2 Timothy 3:1-5 ) KJV “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

He warns us against deception!

Matthew 24:4 KJV “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”

(Matthew 24:24) KJV “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

In these Next few verses Jesus tells us the signs we will see in the earth that will indicate his soon return.

(Matthew 24:5-11,13) KJV For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows. [9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. [10] And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. [11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. [13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

I want us to look at one more portion of scripture....

(1 Timothy 4:1-2) KJV “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

If we're not careful we can take all these warnings to be a reason, a justification, and a validation for living very guarded, fearful, and self- preserving lives.

We could misread the instructions and take them to mean that we should be living on the defense, just hoping that somehow we can hold out till Jesus comes...

That’s exactly what the devil wants you to believe.

That's why you have to take all the scriptures and rightly divide them.

The Bible doesn't teach any such thing!

Yes the Bible teaches us very clearly that the world and its spirit, and it's system is Antichrist, and despises God.

But that is no indication that the church is supposed to sulk around, walking on eggshells just hoping and praying we don't make anybody mad.

The reality is that Jesus told us all these things, and the Apostle Paul told us these things by the Holy Ghost, to prepare for this hour. ... Not to escape this hour.

Yes I believe Jesus is coming back. And yes I want him to come back. But I believe that the ministry has failed the church by preparing for an exit, but not preparing us for the battle.

The early church lived in the hope of the imminent return of our Lord, but they also believed it was their job to evangelize the world, and that Jesus would not return until they had finished the job.

That created in them a passion and a drive to preach, teach, cast out devils, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and raise the dead.

The point is... they were not hiding out, praying for Jesus to come and get them out of the evil world. They were convinced that they were to penetrate their culture with the message of the gospel, and bring the kingdom of God into direct confrontation with the kingdom of darkness.

The early church embraced their mission, and their commission.

Jesus had said... “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned. and these signs shall follow them that believe, in my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them, and they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mk 16:15-18)

Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:18-19)